- Larger hydrogen tanks for longer driving range: with their higher capacity (110 litres), the vehicle's range in hydrogen mode has been increased to approx. 100 km, despite the added fuel consumption introduced by the automatic gearbox.

- Fuel switching 'on the fly': a (rotor-shaped) switch on the dashboard enables the driver to switch from hydrogen to petrol while driving. The switch illuminates in blue when the car is running on hydrogen.

- New instrument layout: in the first version of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, the hydrogen gauge, fuel mode indicator and warning lights were located in the centre of the dashboard. They have now been incorporated into the instrument panel.



Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE: uncompromising safety

The hydrogen tanks are located in the boot. The fuel is kept at a pressure of around
350 bar (35 MPa). The petrol tank, carried over from the standard RX-8 model, is under the rear seats.

For maximum safety, hydrogen detectors have been fitted in the cabin to sense any
intrusion of gas into the passenger area.



Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE: dual-fuel technology for maximum peace of mind

Until a genuine hydrogen distribution network is established (it exists in embryonic form at present), it is hard to imagine how a vehicle running exclusively on hydrogen could be used on a daily basis anywhere in Europe. The Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE provides the perfect solution to this problem: its RENESIS engine runs using either petrol or hydrogen.

Switching from hydrogen gas to petrol can be done using the switch next to the driver's seat. The car must be stationary to switch from petrol to hydrogen. In addition, when the hydrogen tank is empty, the RX-8 Hydrogen RE switches automatically to petrol power.

This dual-fuel technology is made possible by the use of traditional petrol injectors in the inlet pipes, complementing the hydrogen injector located in the rotary housing for direct injection, and an additional hydrogen injector located in the intake pipe. Engine control activates one fuel source or the other depending on the position of the switch in the cabin or the level of fuel in the hydrogen tank.

Thanks to this technology, a hydrogen vehicle can now be used for any type of journey.
It makes it possible to travel without any worries to areas without hydrogen fuel stations, particularly since the vehicle's range is increased to 550 km with the RENESIS engine operating in petrol mode (650 km in total with both energies).



Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE: already in service with corporate and local
governmental vehicle fleets in Japan

A world first: the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE is the first hydrogen internal combustion passenger car supplied for lease. Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. in Tokyo and Iwatani International Corporation in Osaka were the first two companies to take this pioneering step, following Hiroshima City and Prefecture.

The lease price for these Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles is set at a mere 420,000 yen per month (around 2,860 euros per month); that is, just over half the lease price of an equivalent model with a fuel cell system. This represents a strong basic competitive advantage to ensure the long-term development of a hydrogen network.

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